What is telomere? State its function.
Telomere is the end of chromosome, which consists of tandemly repeated short sequences of DNA. Each time a cell divides some sequences of the telomere are lost, eventually (after 60-100 divisions in an average cell) the cell dies. Replication of telomeres is directed by telomerase, an enzyme consisting of RNA and protein that is inactive in normal cells of higher organisms.
